Two Grenadians have been included on a CARICOM Election Observation Mission for today (Friday) general election in St. Kitts and Nevis.
The two are President of the Senate, Chester Humphrey and attorney-at-law, Arley Gill, serving as an ambassador in the ruling New National Party (NNP) government in Grenada.
A release from the Caricom Secretariat in Guyana said that the three-member Mission will be headed by Gasper Jean Baptiste, Chief Elections Officer of Saint Lucia, who has served as a member of CARICOM Election Observation Missions to other CARICOM Member States.
The election is a straight fight between PM Harris’ coalition Team Unity and the main opposition St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party headed by former Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas.
Prime Minister Harris is considered an ally of Grenada’s ruling New National Party (NNP) government of which Sen. Humphrey and Ambassador Gill are now associated with.
The Caricom release said that the mission was being sent at the invitation of the Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, headed by Prime Minister Timothy Harris.
The CARICOM Election Observation Mission proposes to meet with the electoral officials, leaders of political parties and other stakeholders of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, and will monitor the voting process including the opening of the poll, the casting of votes, the closing of the poll and the counting of the ballots.
The members of the Observation Mission arrived in St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday and will depart on Sunday.
The Election Observation Mission will issue a Preliminary Statement based on its observations and findings
A Report on the General Elections will be subsequently prepared and submitted to the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community.
For CARICOM, election observation serves as a platform to support existing democratic traditions within the Caribbean Community as part of its wider policy of supporting democracy and good governance.